Physical Therapy License from Louisiana to Iowa: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Last verified: 2026-07-21 · source: Iowa Board of Physical and Occupational Therapy (Department of Inspections, Appeals & Licensing) ↗
Yes — both Louisiana and Iowa are members of the Physical Therapy Licensure Compact (PT Compact). If Louisiana is your primary state of residence and you hold a multistate license, you can practice in Iowa now; if you are moving your residence to Iowa, apply for licensure by endorsement there and declare Iowa your new primary state of residence — your multistate privilege continues.
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Verdict
Compact multistate — already covered
Both Louisiana and Iowa are active PT Compact members, so this is a privilege move, not a license move. If Louisiana is your home state and primary residence and your license there is active, you do not apply to the Iowa Board of Physical and Occupational Therapy (Department of Inspections, Appeals & Licensing) — you buy a Iowa compact privilege through the commission and practice on it, with your Louisiana license staying in place. Two caveats worth planning around: Iowa may require its jurisprudence exam before the privilege issues, and the privilege lapses the moment your Louisiana license does. If you are genuinely relocating to Iowa rather than working there temporarily, the privilege model doesn't fit — you would change your home state by endorsing into Iowa.
What changes, Louisiana → Iowa
| Louisiana (current) | Iowa (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| PT Compact status | PT Compact member — multistate license honored | PT Compact member — multistate license honored |
| Application fee | $250 (PT license application fee per LAC 46:LIV §501, paid by domestic cashier's check or money order only (personal checks are returned). The $95 'compact state fee' in the same rule is the PT Compact privilege fee, NOT the reciprocity application fee.) | $120 (physical therapist license application fee (non-refundable) charged to the out-of-state endorsement applicant; + $55 non-refundable fingerprint/criminal-background-check fee (in notes, not the range). NOT the PT Compact privilege fee.) |
| Processing time | the Board publishes no processing timeframe for reciprocity applications | the Board publishes no processing timeframe for endorsement applications |
| Licensing authority | Louisiana Physical Therapy Board (Louisiana State Board of Physical Therapy Examiners) | Iowa Board of Physical and Occupational Therapy (Department of Inspections, Appeals & Licensing) |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — Iowa sets the rules for this move.
Step by step
- Confirm your current license is an active multistate license in good standing.
- If you are moving your primary residence to Iowa: apply for licensure by endorsement with the Iowa Board of Physical and Occupational Therapy (Department of Inspections, Appeals & Licensing) when you move.
- Declare Iowa as your new primary state of residence on that application.
- Complete Iowa's fingerprint/background check requirement if requested.
- Keep practicing — your multistate privilege remains valid during the transition (do not let the old license lapse before the new one issues).
Official links
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Does Iowa accept a Louisiana physical therapy license?
Yes — both Louisiana and Iowa are members of the Physical Therapy Licensure Compact (PT Compact). If Louisiana is your primary state of residence and you hold a multistate license, you can practice in Iowa now; if you are moving your residence to Iowa, apply for licensure by endorsement there and declare Iowa your new primary state of residence — your multistate privilege continues.
Do I retake the NPTE moving from Louisiana to Iowa?
No — the NPTE is taken once and your score transfers through the FSBPT. NPTE is not retaken; the passing score is submitted to the Board directly by the FSBPT (Score Transfer Service). Iowa does not require a separate state jurisprudence/law exam for licensure..
What does the move cost?
If you are buying a Iowa compact privilege to work while living in Louisiana: the commission's uniform fee plus Iowa's privilege fee. If you are relocating and taking a full Iowa license by endorsement: $120 (physical therapist license application fee (non-refundable) charged to the out-of-state endorsement applicant; + $55 non-refundable fingerprint/criminal-background-check fee (in notes, not the range). NOT the PT Compact privilege fee.) (physical therapist license application fee (non-refundable) charged to the out-of-state endorsement applicant; + $55 non-refundable fingerprint/criminal-background-check fee (in notes, not the range). NOT the PT Compact privilege fee.).
How long will it take?
A compact privilege issues quickly once your eligibility and any Iowa jurisprudence exam are cleared — usually faster than a full license. A relocation endorsement runs the Board publishes no processing timeframe for endorsement applications (the Board publishes no processing timeframe for endorsement applications).
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-07-21.
- Iowa DIAL — Apply for a Physical Therapist License ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Iowa Administrative Code 645 ch. 200 — Physical and Occupational Therapists ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- LAC 46:LIV §501 — Louisiana physical therapy fees (Cornell LII) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- LAC 46:LIV §151 — Application (jurisprudence exam + background check) (Cornell LII) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Louisiana PT Board — Reciprocity for PTs and PTAs (Non-Foreign Educated) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
Reviewed by Billy Reiner, Editor · verified against primary sources 2026-07-21
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